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Expanded texting while driving ban hits Austin Jan. 1
Updated: 12/28/2009 5:56:35 PM - www.news8austin.com
By: Ashley Porter
With a new year comes a new texting ban for Austin. Starting Jan. 1, it will be illegal for drivers within Austin city limits to use a cell phone for most operations other than making a phone call. The ordinance was passed by Austin City Council earlier this year.
"You won't be allowed to text. You can't use it for GPS, unless it's a permanently installed device, [and you can't do] any kind of scrolling through the Internet," Austin Police Department Commander Stephen Baker said.
To allow Austin drivers some time to get familiar with new rules, the ordinance begins with a 30-day grace period.
"If we observe these violations, we'll be making the stops, talking to the drivers, and issuing a written warning," said Baker.
After the 30 days, a violation of the ordinance could come with a penalty of up to $200. The ban does not prohibit talking on the phone, and it does allow drivers to check texts while at stop signs and red lights and in emergency situations. The ordinance also applies to bicyclists.
Officers said they'll be on the lookout for drivers and bicyclists looking down at their phones for an extended period of time.
To demonstrate why officers are gearing up to enforce the ban, APD Officer Jim Riley maneuvered a golf cart while texting Monday. By the time Riley made it around the course, he had knocked over a few orange cones and his text message read, "Laf I meedvu tn gry?"
"I was trying to say, 'Pat, you need to get me out of here,'" Riley said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to hurt themselves.
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Nov 2009 Austin Area Market Statistics
November 2009 Austin Area Market Statistics
Austin area home sales continue to rise
Austin Board of REALTORS® releases November 2009 real estate statistics
Austin area home sales continue to rise
Austin Board of REALTORS® releases November 2009 real estate statistics
December 21, 2009 - According to the Multiple Listing Service report by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the volume of Austin-area home sales continues to surge, increasing 58 percent in November 2009 compared to November 2008.
“This is the largest increase in year-over-year homes sales the Austin market has seen in more than ten years,” explained Jay Gohil, chairman of the Austin Board of REALTORS®.
In November 2009, there were a total of 1,576 home sales, contributing $377,603,296 to the local economy. The median home price for Austin in November 2009 was $179,000, a two percent decrease from the same month the prior year.
“The combination of steady home prices with increasing demand is very encouraging for the Central Texas real estate market,” said Gohil.
In the face of increasing sales volume, the Austin real estate market is seeing a decrease in home inventory. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University cites 6.5 months of inventory as a balanced market, meaning demand for homes is evenly balanced with inventory of homes for sale. At approximately 5.4 months of inventory for November 2009, demand for homes in the Austin real estate market is slightly outpacing inventory.
November 2009 Statistics
$377,603,296 – Total dollar volume of single-family properties sold, a 62 percent increase from November 2008.
$179,000 – Median price for single-family homes, a two percent decrease from November 2008.
1,576 – Single-family homes sold, a 58 percent increase from November 2008.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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